Box-folding machine.



No. 866,601. PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907. G. WDROOKIE & A. M. MEREDITH.

BOX FOLDING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED P113. 19, 1907.

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APPLICATION I'IL ED FEB. 19, 1907.

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' No. 866,601. I PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907. 'G. W. ROGKIEKr A. M. MEREDITH.

BOX FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rmm ran. 19, 1907.

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CHARLES W. ROGKIE AND ALBERT M. MEREDITH, OF BRIDESBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AS- SIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO FREDRIOK J. SOHWARZ, JR, OF BRIDESBURG, PHILADEL- PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOX-FOLDING MACHINE Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed February 19, 1907. Serial No. 358,275.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES W. Rooms and AL- BERT M. MEREDITH, both citizens of United States, and residents of Bridesburg, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have jointly invented a certain new and useful Box-Folding Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful box folding machines and is particularly adapted for folding that class of boxes known in the trade as ice cream boxes and the principal object of the present invention is to provide comparatively simple and efficient apparatus whereby blanks may be automatically folded into box form, means being provided to hold the blank while adhesive material and tape are applied and in the provision of mechanism for folding, releasing and discharging a completed box from the machine.

Other objects will hereinafter appear. I

To these and other ends hereinafter set forth the invention stated in general terms comprises the improvements to be presently described and finally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which Figure 1, is a plan view of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2, is an elevational new of the same.

' Fig. 3, is a plan view of the base plate of the machine illustrating a series of concentric cam faces thereon. Fig. 4, is a diagrammatic view illustrating a card-board blank as clamped by the machine, and also showing the manner of applying adhesive material to the blank. Fig. 5, is a similar view illustrating the first folding operation of the machine, wherein the inner sides of the box parts are operated upon. Fig. 6, is a similar view illustrating the blank being folded to form the bottom of the box. Fig. 7, is a similar view illustrating the application of tape to the box parts and also showing the front or back of the box parts being folded. Fig. 8, is a similar view illustrating the folding operation of the sides of the box parts. Fig. 9, is a similar view showing the last folding operation of the machine. Fig. 10, is a similar view illustrating the box-delivering mechanism operating to eject a finished box from the machine. Fig. 11, is a detail view of the tape cutting device. Fig. 12, is a view of a card-board blank as used to make ice cream boxes according to the invention, and Fig. 13, is a perspective view of a finished ice cream box.

Referring to the drawings a rotatable table or carrier 1, preferably of circular configuration is shown as mounted upon and fixed to a vertical shaft 2, an intermittent motion being imparted to the same by a pawl 3, engaging the ratchet wheel 3 and operated by a convenient mechanism as an eccentric 3 As shown the lower end of the shaft is journaled within the base plate 4, and the upper end within the bearing 5. The base plate 4, is shown as being circular in form and is provided with a series of concentric cam faces a, b, 0, cl, e, f g, h, and i. The table or carrier 1, is equipped with a number of radially disposed folding devices 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, the various parts of which are adapted to be operated through the instrumentality of a series of vertically arranged rod connections, hereinafter to be referred to riding upon or over the above cam faces. The said rod connections are equipped with rollers 14, which are adapted to cooperate with and facilitate their movement in respect to the cam faces.

15, is a guide plate secured to and adapted to rotate with the vertical shaft 2, and acts to keep in proper alinement the various vertically arranged rods.

16, are box delivering pushers having pivotal relation with rods 17, that are pivotally carried by a series of arms 17, fix'ed to the shaft 2. These rods 17, are adapted to be operated one at a time by means of an eccentric 18, as the carrier 1, is rotated. Also carried by the shaft 2, are spools 19, one for each folding device, that carry tape adapted to be fed to the various box folding devices in a manner hereinafter set forth.

20, is a table from which blanks may be fed to the respective folding devices upon the rotating table.

21, comprises means for supplying adhesive material to the folding forms and comprises an adhesive holding receptacle 22, through which rotates a roller 23, adapted to contact with a pair of rollers 24, that are reciprocated back and forth by any convenient means, as for instance, a rack and pinion, for applying the adhesive material to the blanks.

25, is means for supplying a heating medium, as gas to be ignited, beneath the receptacle 22, in order to heat the adhesive material for proper presentation to the blanks to be folded.

26, illustrates a chute for accommodating the finished boxes.

Referring to the blank folding devices 27 is a rectangular hollow form of the general configuration of an ice cream box, through which the spring controlled boxdelivering pusher or ejector 16, is adapted to be operated upon by means of the above described rods 17 and eccentric 18. This form27, is fixed to the rotating table 1. Upon either side of this form 27, are a pair of pivotally arranged wings 28, adapted to work in slots 28, in the table 1. These wings are carried by arms 28, pivotally connected to the cross arms 28", and having a lazy-tongs connection 28 with the connecting rod 29. Also located upon either side of the form 27 are a pair of vertically slidably arranged plates 30 carried by the vertical rods 31. The vertically arranged connecting rod 32, is shown as being provided with a bottom forming plate 33, and a pivotally arranged finger 34, and a pivotal ly arranged front or back forming plate 35. This plate in turn carries a toothed segment 36 that is adapted to cooperate with a vertically arranged rack bar 37, which is fixed to the vertical rod 38, and a motion is imparted to said plate by the segment and rack connection. This rod 38, is in turn equipped with a pair of side folding pivotal fingers 39, operated by the vertical rod 40.

A rod 41, (Fig. 7 and 11) is shown as being equipped with a generally U-shaped member 41, having cutting edges 42, adapted to cooperate with a similarly shaped member 41 having openings 43 therein, that cooperate with the cutting edges 42, for cutting the tape as supplied from the spools 19, upon the rod being actuated by its roller 14 passing over the cam face h. As shown in Fig. 7, the tape is fed forward to each side of the box parts by means of grooved carriers 44 actuated by a rod 44, passing over the cam face 6 upon the base 4.

45, is a vertically arranged connecting rod equipped with a horizontal plate 45*, for clamping the card-board in respect to the underside of the form 27.

A detailed description will now be given of the consecutive steps of the operation of the machine in folding ice cream boxes, it being understood that the table or carrier revolves intermittently, and while rotating and while at rest the different operations take place.

A card-board blank 46, such illustrated in Fig. 12, is fed from the table 20, to the folding device designated 6, (Fig. 1), and the carrier 1, rotated an eighth of a turn through the instrumentality of the eccentric 3 connections 48, pawl 3*, and ratchet 3. During this movement the rod 45, carrying the plate 45, has been elevated by reason of roller 14 thereof passing upon or over the cam face 0, (see Fig. 4) and the card-board blank 46 is clamped to the underside of the form 27. The machine is then brought to rest as the pawling means recedes to engage another tooth of the ratchet and during this rest the reciprocating rollers 24. are fed forward to the folding device designated 7, and the blank provided with a layer of adhesive material. The table or carrier 1, is then moved forward another eighth of a turn by means of the above described mechanism, which brings it into the position of the device, designated 8, illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the rod 31, carrying the vertically arranged forked plates 30, has been actuated by the cam face, and has pushed up what 'may be termed the inner sides 50, of the blank 46.

Another eighth of a rotation of the table or carrier 1, brings the machine to the position of the folding device, designated 9, see Fig. 6, wherein the bottom 53 of the box has been pushed up by the vertically arranged plate 33, being elevated by the rod 32, coming in contact with the cam face 0, and wherein the corners 51, of

each side of the blank 46, have been pushed to place by the fingers 34. During the next movement of the table the folding device designated 10, and illustrated in Fig. 7, forms the back or front 52 of the blank 46. This portion is folded over by means of the pivotal plate 35, being operated through the instrumentality of the rack and pinion connection 36 and 37, upon the cam face b, contacting with the rod 38. At this time the tape 53, is fed forward by the grooved carrier 44, upon each side of the folding device by the rod 44, having come in con tact with the cam face 'i, and is held in such position until the table is rotated and a further eighth of a turn is made which brings it into the position of the device, designated 11, (see Fig. 8). In this position the outer sides 54, of the blank 46, are partly folded downward by the forked fingers 39, operated by the rod 40, engaging the high part of the cam face 11. During the next movement of the carrier, the tape 53, adhesive material being present as described, is pressed between the inner and outer sides of the box and these sides forced together by the wings 28, which are actuated through the instruinentality of their complemental connections with the rod or post 29 of the device, designated 12 (see Fig. 9), coming in contact with the cam face g. During the next rotation of the table the grooved carrier 44 which has maintained its last position is moved backward, the end of the tape being glued to the box, and the tape cutting device 42, actuated by the rod 41, passing over the cam face h, cuts the tape off near to the end of the carrier 44. This last eighth of a revolution brings the folding device, designated 13, (see Fig. 10) in position for delivering or ejecting the finished box from the machine. In this figure there is shown the plunger 45, in the act of dropping downward and the ejector 16 being operated by the rod 17 to push the finished box from the form 27. The last movement of the table brings the folding device in position for the insertion of a new blank. I

It will be obvious that eight boxes are in course of being folded during one rotation of the table, although the description has been limited to the recital of the folding of only one box.

It is customary to have printed upon boxes of a character above described, advertising matter of some description, as for instance, Ice cream, and the horizontal plate 45*, of the rod 45, may have designated thereon means for imprinting suitable characters upon the blank upon the upward movement of the rod and plate 45 and 45.

It will be understood that the various movements of the above described machine are all timed with reference to each other and in respect to the cam faces upon the base 4.

We do not intend to limit our invention by the use of the above language or description, any further than the prior state of the art may require, but

Having thus described the nature and objects of our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A machine of the class described comprising a revoluble horizontal carrier provided with a series of fixed forms for blanks disposed radially thereof, a series of side, back, front, and bottom compressing members in juxtaposition to said fixed forms, a series of vertically movable posts carried by the carrier operatively connected with said members, a series of fixed concentric cam faces beneath the table lying in the path of said posts and mechanism for imparting an intermittent movement to the carrier.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a revoluble horizontal carrier provided with a series of fixed forms for blanks disposed radially thereof, a series of side, back, front, and bottom compressing members in juxtaposition to said fixed forms, tape feeding and cutting mechanism movable in respect to the carrier, a series of vertically movable posts carried by the carrier operatively connected with said members and tape feeding and cutting mechanism, a series of fixed concentric cam faces beneath the carrier lying in the path of said posts, an adhesive feeding medium and mechanism for imparting an inter mittent movement to the carrier. 1

3. A machine of the classdescribed comprising a revoluble horizontal table provided Wlthft series of fixed forms for blanks disposed radially thereof, side, back, front, and bottom compressing members in juxtaposition to said fixed forms, a series of vertically movable posts carried by the carrier operatively connected with said members, a series of concentric cam faces beneath the table lying in the path of said posts, box ejecting means carried by the table penetrating the fixed forms, means for actuating said ejectors and mechanism for imparting an intermittent movement to the table.

4. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal table provided with a series of fixed forms for blanks disposed radially thereof, side forming fingers, side compressing .wings, and back, front, and bottom compressing plates in juxtaposition to said fixed forms, a series of stationary concentric cam faces beneath the table, a series of vertically movable posts carried by the table and adapted to lie in the path of the cam faces, said posts being operatively connected to the said fingers, wings, and plates, whereby the said finge1's,- wings, and plates are caused to advance toward and recede from the said fixed forms. during the operation of the machine.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a revoluble horizontal carrier provided with a series of fixed forms for blanks disposed radially thereof, folding mechanism for forming a box around said fixed forms, a series of vertically movable posts carried by the carrier opera tively connected with the said folding mechanism whereof one of said posts in each series is designed to raise and hold blanks against said fixed forms, and a series of fixed concentric cam faces beneath the table and lying in the path of said posts.

6. A machine of the class described comprising a revoluble horizontal carrier provided with a series of forms for blanks disposed radially thereof, folding mechanism for forming a box around said fixed forms, a series of vertically movable posts operatively connected therewith, duplicate tape feeding and cutting mechanism for each fixed form, said tape mechanism being oppositely disposed to each other, means for presenting adhesive material to the blank to be formed, and means for actuating the vertically movable posts.

7. A machine of the class described comprising a revoluble horizontal carrierprovided with a series of fixed forms for blanks disposed radially thereof, vertically arranged slide plates on opposite sides of each of said fixed forms and movable through the carrier for pushing up the blank to form sides, a vertically movable post carried by the carrier and having fixed thereto the said plates, and a series of concentric cam faces located beneath the carrier whereof one of said cam faces is adapted to lie in the path of the said post.

8. A machine of the class described comprising a revoluble horizontal carrier fixed forms for blanks radially disposed thereof, vertically arranged slide plates in front of each of said fixed forms and aiforded a movement through said carrier for pushing up the blank to form the box bottom a vertically movable post carried by the carrier and having fixed thereto said slide plates, and a series of concentric cam faces located beneath the carrier whereof one of said cam faces is adapted to lie in the path of the said post.

9. A machine of the class described comprising a rotatable carrier, fixed formers for blanks mounted thereon, vertically arranged slide plates in front of each of said formers and afiorded a movement through said carrier, fingers adapted to straddle the former and having pivotal relation with the said plates for pushing the triangular shaped blank portion adjoining the box bottom, and means for simultaneously actuating the plates and fingers.

10. A machine of the class described comprising a revo luble horizontal carrier provided with a series of fixed forms for blanks disposed radially thereof, a vertically movable post carried by the carrier having fixed thereto a bottom forming plate, back or front forming plates having pivotal relation with said post said plates being provided with segmental gears, other vertically movable posts carrying toothed racks for engaging said gears, and a series of concentric cam faces beneath the carrier whereof some of said cam faces lie in the path of the said posts.

11. A machine of the class described comprising a rotatable carrier, fixed formers for blanks mounted thereon vertically movable posts carried by the carrier, side forming fingers pivotally carried thereby equipped with toothed racks movable through the carrier, said fingers straddling the formers, other posts carrying links connected with said fingers, and means for actuating the said fingers.

12. A machine of the class described comprising a rotatable carrier provided with a series of forms for blanks disposed radially thereof, vertically movable posts carried by the carrier having'pivotally secured thereto arms carrying side compressing Wings, said Wings being oppositely disposed with respect to the fixed form, means for actuating said arms and lazy tongs connection between said means and arms.

13. A machine of the class described comprising a revoluble horizontal carrier having fixed forms for blanks radially disposed thereof, said fixed forms having openings therethrough, horizontal box ejectors mounted upon the carrier and afforded a movement through each of said fixed forms vertically disposed rods having pivotal rela tion with said ejectors and eccentric means for operating said rods one at a time for causing the ejectors to deliver finished boxes from the machine.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names.

CHARLES W. ROOKIE. ALBERT M. MEREDITH. Witnesses:

HARRY GINN, .TosnrI-t M. ADDIS. 

